Archive for the ‘India’

For one reason or another, so far I have always pushed back my first encounter with the Himalayan region of the world. As I was planning my manic geographical take on the whole of Asia for the past three years, I knew it would have been an important part of my trip. I also knew that It would not have come too soon. Finally, as my Journey to the West turns Eastwards because of a border block – Pakistan -, we have travelled from the golden city of Amritsar and its temple in Punjab, to the border town Pathankot. Here, together with Himachal Pradesh, a new dimension was bound to start: a world where distances are not measured in kilometers but bends and hours, a world where people get easily lost – on mountain tracks or in life -, and where the culinary borders have introduced an amazing form of steamed dumplings called “momos”. (more…)

During this trip in India, I grew a morning habit: I need a chai to get started right. To me, the divine Indian spiced milk tea is best savored with some biscuits. You may think I have run out of topics to end up covering my breakfast habits, but If blogging means spreading advice, I think that Parle G, a local brand of biscuits, deserves a little post. Because it is something all India bound travelers should be aware of.

For a mere 4 rupees – something like 0.1 euros – you will get a 12 biscuits stick. Parle G are some of the best value for money: generally, if you get a cup of chai for around 5 or 6 rupees, you will be able to get a complete breakfast for 10 rupees – less than 0.2 euros-: how about that? (more…)

Last week, on the 8th of March, as the rest of the world celebrated women, India celebrated happiness: Holi, the color festival. We were in Jodhpur and decided to stay well put, as for a day and a half all of India seems to come down to a halt… even getting a chai becomes an impossible task.
Jodhpur is another gracious Rajasthani city with a town atmosphere, luckily far from the unbearable chaos of Jaipur. It has a majestic fort clinging onto a rock dominating the whole valley… as you get closer and closer, you start feeling like reality morphed into one of Manilla Road’s epic record covers. It is incredible to realize how this part of India might appeal to fans of sword and sorcery and role games. Never before around the world have I seen such a display of forts, citadels, protective walls… I understand for a good reason why Rajhastan draws most international tourism to India. (more…)